Adivsory Board: Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly, George Lehman Williams, Patsy Hughes Oldroyd
Contributors: The Members of Lee High School Classes of 64-65-66 and Others
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, USA - It's time for one of my real editorials, which are not done very often. I will try to stay off the soapbox, but I refuse to not honor my fellow veteran Classmates.
A little earlier this year I was severely criticized by one of my Classmates for making such a big deal in Lee's Traveller out of Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Veteran's Day. I was accused of being too right winged I believe by giving such praise to those who served in our military and ignoring others who had just as honorable professions.
I'd like to think that even if I had not been a career military officer I would have still honored those of you who served or had spouses and brothers and sisters who served.. Perhaps that would be because of the sacrifices that my father made when he charged on Omaha Beach on D-Day as so vividly portrayed in "Saving Private Ryan." Perhaps I would still do so because my best friend at Lee, Bob Walker, Class of '64, was only one of you who earned a Purple Heart in Vietnam. Perhaps I would still do so to honor Dennis Faber, Class of '65 who was the only known member of our three classes who was killed while on active duty.
I'd like to think I would honor those who joined the National Guard and served while many of us went to college or to other paths in our lives.
It is not a political stand. It is not a pro-war or pro-Bush statement. It is a tribute to all veterans. I have received this e-mail several times in the past and want to share it with all of you today.
What is a Veteran?
A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, reserve or anyone who has honorably served - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is honor , and there are way too many people who no longer understand that principle.
Author unknown.
Thank a veteran for your way of life.
Please include your class year with your e-mails.
T. Tommy
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Last Week's
Mystery Photo
This Week's
Mystery Photo
From Our
Mailbox
In honor of our veteran classmates (or others with super powers of observation) we offer up the above Mystery Photo. Please include your branch and dates of service along with your Lee High School Class year.
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What I Did For Veteran's Day 2007
by Tommy Towery
Class of '64
I joined the Guard today. Yes, I'm 61 years old but they still have a place for me. I think Collins Wynn, Class of '64, will understand the most what all this means to me. There are many others of you who will also understand and some who will think that I am just a crazy old man. This is being written on Saturday, and at 3pm this afternoon, I was sworn in as a Major in the Tennessee State Guard. Happy Veteran's Day!
Now don't get me wrong, this is not the National Guard or the Reserves. This is the Tennessee State Guard, which is an all-volunteer group of citizen soldiers who meet and drill just like the National Guard, but we will never be "called up" or deployed outside of the State of Tennessee. One of the major factors that led to this decision was the recent reading of the book "The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast" by Douglas G. Brinkley. Only after reading that book was I so aware that after Katrina I sat around and did nothing when I could have helped more by doing something - anything. I looked at many organizations which I thought could best use my knowledge and talents and decided upon this organization.
The Mission of the State Guard is listed on their website as follows: The purpose of the Tennessee State Guard is to provide a professional complement of personnel to support the State mission of the Federal homeland security requirements, by assisting the Tennessee Army National Guard as a force multiplier, and at the direction of the Adjuntant General, to assist civil authorities with disaster relief, humanitarian causes, ceremonial service, religious and medical support for the promotion of the well being and safety of the citizenry of Tennessee.
With ever increasing federalization of National Guards across America, many Governors and State Legislatures realized that in the event of a National emergency that the troops that provided local service would be withdrawn from their command. Thus, in 1985 the Tennessee Defense Force was formed to provide a trained and organized military reserve force under the control of the Governor and would provide service to the state when the National Guard was under Federal Control or otherwise on a mission for the Governor and unable to perform certain duties to meet the needs of the people.
The STATE Guard is part of the Military Department of the state of Tennessee and is open to any Tennessee resident between the ages of 17 & 67. You don't have to be prior military but many in the guard are. Your rank is determined by your prior military rank (if any), education, civilian occupation and other factors.
The function of the Tennessee STATE Guard is to take the place of and/or assist the Tennessee National Guard if they're called up to active duty. The STATE Guard may also be called upon in the event of a disaster, attack or other emergency to aid the National Guard. You can learn more by going to the web site listed below.
The Tennessee STATE Guard meets once a month and one weekend per year. There are many other ways to get involved and you can be as involved as you feel comfortable. They're looking for some quality people with a desire to help out and be a part of a great team. I would love to have you join me.
The unit to which I will be attached is a Military Police unit and I will have to buy my own Army uniform (and learn how to put all the right things on it) and will receive no pay for my service. I really have to learn to say "Hoo-rah!" because that was not part of the Air Force vocabulary. Today we worked on baton training for riot control and planned the Christmas Party. For many it is a social organization but more civic minded than some other similar groups. There were at least five females in the group, mostly older than you would expect but still wanting to serve.
By the way, if you are interested, there is a similar organization in Alabama. The Alabama State Defense Force 1st Infantry Brigade is a component (Brigade) of the Alabama State Defense Force which is a military entity authorized by both the State Code of Alabama and Executive Order. The 1st Infantry Brigade is located in Huntsville, Alabama. The Brigade is comprised of retired active and reserve military personnel and selected professional persons who volunteer their time and talents in further service to their state. There web site is located at http://asdf.rocket-city.us/
You may think that this is just a group of guys who dress up in uniforms and play soldier, but I see a desire to still sever, to still be a part of something important in their eyes.
The Tennessee State Guard will march at the head of the Memphis Veteran's Day Parade on Monday. I don't have my guard uniform yet, so I will march behind them with the group of World War II, Korean, Vietnam, and Desert Storm veterans the same as I have done for the last dozen years. I hope some of you will do something to celebrate as well.
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Lee High School
Classes of '64, '65, '66
Veterans
I also received one e-mail earlier in the year that suggested that I create a page that listed the Veterans from our Classes. Probably about the second year after I started Lee's Traveller on the web I asked for you Classmates to send me your own service status. I hate to say that this kind of got pushed aside and has not been updated or viewed I guess in the last few years. For that I apologize. Here is a link to the list I built, and if any of you want to correct or add anything to the list, please e-mail me and I will update and make it easier to find. Just look at what was sent in and use a similiar style. Please include your highest rank, branch and years of service, and your class year.
Jan Hunt, Class of '66 - Hi Tommy. You are still doing a fantastic job on the Traveller and you certainly show that you are truly dedicated to the cause which is so beneficial and enjoyable to us Lee alumni. This weeks mystery photo is a lava lamp which is an old fad that is becoming popular again. Take care all and God bless you.
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Chip Smoak, Class of '66 - The mystery item is a lava lamp. I never had one but always stopped and looked at them for a few minutes whenever I saw one in a store. I thought that they were somewhat mesmerizing and a lot less costly than a tank of tropical fish that someone was always having to feed or change their water.
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Bruce Fowler, Class of '66 - Most Esteem Editor, the mystery object is a "lava lamp." The device consists of a glass bottle and a metal base that contains a low wattage light bulb. The bulb provides both heat and light, the latter to illuminate the bottle's contents and the former to make the lamp function. The bottle has two components: water suitably died and with an antimicrobial additive; and a contrastingly colored immiscible "goop". The key factor here is that the goop have a fairly large coefficient of thermal expansion so that when it is at the bottom of the bottle next the light bulb it absorbs heat, expands and thereby reducing its density, rises. Upon rising to the top where the water is cooler, it loses heat, becomes more dense, and sinks to complete the cycle. Overall an excellent example of a simple thermodynamic engine.
I do not recall seeing such while at Lee, but I do recall they were common in college dorm rooms and apartments. They were definitely more common than televisions which I suspect is more a statement of economics than of the state of television entertainment. Those were the halcyon days, after all, of Laugh In and the original Star Trek. I also recall that the lamps served a somewhat similar function as television for some who overused certain supposedly controlled substances such as ethanol and tetrahydrocannabinol.
Regretfully, I have no amusing anecdote to relate in regard to lava lamps although I can recall a few in relation to the misuse of substances but must refrain from reproducing those as a matter of propriety and respect for my classmates. I can state that we have three lava lamps today, two of the conventional variety and one of the contemporary plasma discharge variety. They can be helpful in dealing with thorny maths problems.
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Rose "Sharon" Towery Linsky, Class of '65 - Ah, the effervescent and emoting lava lamp - this brings both past and recent thoughts to mind. My husband proudly met me at our doorway several weeks ago and led me into the living room where he so proudly revealed to me the lovely lava lamp that was sitting upon our coffee table...he loves that lamp...it brings back fond memories of his/our youth...he loves the way the "lumps" begin to change into lovely "egg shaped" masses...he loves the way they break apart and rejoin again into various swirls of shapes and peacefully glide about...and I love him for loving this lava lamp so...our grandchildren also enjoy the lamp...so I suppose it will stay perched upon our coffee table...for now at least.
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Subject:Veteran's Day
John W. Turrentine
Class of '65
Happy Veteran's Day to all of my Veteran friends. I wish you all a safe weekend of remembrances and thank you all for your service to our country, especially you combat vets! Best wishes!
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Subject:The Beatles
Andrea Gray Roberson
Class of '66
Emily Hall Vandiver and I went to Atlanta to see the Beatles in 1964. They were at the stadium where the Braves played. The tickets were $5.00 each and they looked like ants from our seats BUT we had a GREAT time!!!! We stayed with some friends of Emily's parents and we were allowed to ride a bus to downtown Atlanta and back. This was a trip to remember and they were only on stage about 1 hour, but it was a time I will never(I hope) forget.
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Subject:Your Trip
Polly Gurley Redd
Class of ‘66
Loved hearing about the cruise but was equally fascinated by your train home to Memphis and the connection to the title of your story. I think train rides are great fun, even if they don’t have dancers in G-strings. Glad you had a great time.
Oh, and the picture is the ever present Lava Lamp, which currently show up regularly on the yard sale circuit. I have a friend who is collecting as many different ones as she can find at yard sales. She already has 8 from just this fall’s work.
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Subject:New Orleans
Bob Cochran
Class of '64
The "New Orleans" story reminded me of when Butch Adcock and I made a "road trip" to N.O.. many years ago. Butch drove his "bomb" down and back. I must admit to some "gaps" in my memory of the trip, but I especially remember imbibing some of the local "specialty" drinks along Rue de Bourbon.
Later on, I had a district sales manager that enjoyed "holding court" in "Nawlins," and we did the "Bourbon Street crawl" several times. I haven't been back since the hurricanes have ravaged the area, but I have no doubt that they'll make a comeback. Hey Butch, do you still have your glass from Pat O'Briens"?
